System for placement of piles into the seafloor

Abstract

A system for placing piles into the seafloor by using pressure differential as the driving force. The pressure differential is created by a pump unit located either within or external to the pile. Operation of the pump unit which displaces both water and soil across a bulkhead section, enables the pile to be driven into and under the seafloor. A section of piling with a pump unit can operate as an uplift anchor, and multiple pumps on a large diameter piling can be embedded into the seafloor as a large foundation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A self-driving pile assembly, comprising: a. a hollow tubular pile casing open at each end thereof; one end thereof being the leading-end of the pile which is driven into a seafloor;   b. a watertight, pressure-resistant bulkhead spanning the interior walls of said pile casing at a position between the open ends thereof and separating the interior of said housing casing into upper and lower chambers;   c. a pressure-differential pump unit mounted centrally to said bulkhead for driving said pile casing into the seafloor;   d. said pump unit including means for pumping water and sediment from said lower chamber through the pump unit into and through said upper chamber whereby a pressure differential is created to force said pile casing into the seafloor;   e. said pump unit comprising: an hydraulic cylinder containing piston means; said piston means operable to be moved in a reciprocating manner;   means connected to said hydraulic cylinder for operating said piston means in said reciprocating manner;   a diaphram means movably mounted beneath said hydraulic cylinder;   a ram-rod means slidably passing through one end of said hydraulic cylinder and connecting said piston means to said diaphram means to impart movement from said piston means to said diaphram means;   at least one check valve in said bulkhead and at least one check valve in said diaphram means, respectively, operable to allow water and sediment from the seafloor to pass therethrough from said lower pile casing chamber to said upper pile casing housing chamber when said pile assembly is to be moved downward into the seafloor.     
     
     
       2. A device as in claim 1 wherein said pump unit also includes means for reversing the flow of water and sediment therethrough for backing said pile casing out of the seafloor. 
     
     
       3. A device as in claim 1 wherein said pressure-differential pump unit is mounted toward the leading end of said pile casing. 
     
     
       4. A device as in claim 1 wherein said pump unit is removably mounted on said bulkhead for retrieval and reuse. 
     
     
       5. A device as in claim 1 wherein said pump unit also includes means for reversing the flow of water and sediment therethrough for backing said pile casing out of the seafloor. 
     
     
       6. A device as in claim 5 wherein said means for reversing the flow of water and sediment through said pile casing comprises a means for reversing the operation of said check valves in both said bulkhead and said diaphram means, respectively. 
     
     
       7. A device as in claim 1 wherein said diaphram means slideably fits and spans the interior of the lower chamber of said pile casing. 
     
     
       8. A device as in claim 1 wherein said means connected to said hydraulic cylinder for operating said piston in a reciprocating manner comprises an hydraulic power system. 
     
     
       9. A device as in claim 4 wherein said hydraulic power system is located remote from said pile assembly. 
     
     
       10. A self-driving pile assembly, comprising: a. a hollow tubular pile casing open at each end thereof; one end thereof being the leading end of the pile which is driven into a seafloor;   b. at least one pressure differential pump unit mounted on said pile casing for driving said pile casing into the seafloor;   c. said pump unit including means for pumping water and sediment from the leading end of said pile casing, through the pile casing and expelling said water and sediment therefrom, said pump unit creating a pressure differential between the leading end of said pile casing and the environment surrounding said pile casing causing said pile casing to be driven into the seafloor;   d. said pump unit comprising: a cylindrical housing open at the bottom end thereof and operable to be mounted at the top end of said pile casing;   a watertight, pressure-resistant bulkhead spanning the top end of said housing; a hydraulic cylinder containing a piston means mounted centrally to the top of said bulkhead; said piston means operable to be moved in a reciprocating manner;   means connected to said hydraulic cylinder for operating said piston means in said reciprocating manner;   a diaphram means slideably mounted beneath said bulkhead and the bottom end of said pump housing and spanning the interior walls of said cylindrical housing;   a ram-rod means slideably passing through one end of said hydraulic cylinder and connecting said piston means to said diaphram means to impart movement from said piston means to said diaphram means;   at least one check valve in said bulkhead and at least one check valve in said diaphram means, respectively, operable to allow water and sediment to pass therethrough from the interior of said cylindrical housing and said pile casing to be expelled into the surrounding environment when said pile casing is to be moved downward into the seafloor.     
     
     
       11. A device as in claim 10 wherein means is provided for removably mounting said pump unit on said pile casing. 
     
     
       12. A device as in claim 11 wherein said pump unit is mounted on the top end of said pile casing. 
     
     
       13. A device as in claim 10 wherein said pump unit is mounted on the top end of said pile casing. 
     
     
       14. A device as in claim 10 wherein said pump unit also includes means for reversing the flow of water and sediment therethrough for backing said pile casing out of the seafloor. 
     
     
       15. A device as in claim 13 wherein said pump unit also includes means for reversing the flow of water and sediment therethrough for backing said pile casing out of the seafloor. 
     
     
       16. A device as in claim 13 wherein said means connected to said hydraulic cylinder for operating said piston in a reciprocating manner comprises an hydraulic power system. 
     
     
       17. A device as in claim 16 wherein said hydraulic power system is located remote from said pile assembly. 
     
     
       18. A device as in claim 10 wherein a large diameter pile casing is used as a foundation in the seafloor for supporting a superstructure and a plurality of pump units are used for driving said pile into the seafloor. 
     
     
       19. A device as in claim 14 wherein one said pile assembly is used on each leg of a superstructure having a plurality of supporting legs whereby the orientation of said superstructure can be manipulated by the independent operation of each said pump unit attached to individual legs thereof. 
     
     
       20. A self-driving anchor assembly, comprising: a. a hollow tubular pile casing open at each end thereof; one end thereof being the leading-end of the anchor assembly which is driven into a seafloor;   b. a watertight, pressure-resistant bulkhead spanning the interior walls of said pile casing at a position inbetween the open ends thereof and separating the interior of said housing casing into upper and lower chambers;   c. a pressure-differential pump unit mounted centrally to said bulkhead for driving said pile casing into the seafloor;   d. said pump unit including means for pumping water and sediment from said lower chamber through the pump unit into sand through said upper chamber whereby a pressure-differential is created to force said pile casing into the seafloor;   e. a liftline means attached approximately midway along the length of said pile casing;   f. a rigging means which includes a gripper means for initially positioning said liftline means lengthwise along said pile casing for properly guiding the anchor assembly into and under the seafloor; said gripper means being operable to release said liftline means from its initial position when said anchor assembly is horizontally positioned beneath the seafloor and permit said liftline means to be positioned from its place of attachment midway along the length of said pile casing for setting said anchor assembly for operation use as an uplift anchor.   
     
     
       21. A device as in claim 20 wherein said gripper means is a remotely operated gripper mechanism. 
     
     
       22. A device as in claim 20 wherein means is provided to cause said anchor assembly to deviate as it is driven into the seafloor from an initial substantially vertical position when first entering the seafloor to a substantially horizontal position at a desired depth beneath the seafloor. 
     
     
       23. A device as in claim 22 wherein said means for causing said anchor assembly to deviate in its path as it is driven into the seafloor includes liftline guides mounted on said pile casing. 
     
     
       24. A cluster pile anchor operable for installation on and being secured to the seafloor, comprising: a. an anchor platform having a plurality of vertical openings therein through which a respective plurality of piles are operable to be driven;   b. a plurality of hollow, open ended, self-driving pile casings being positioned in said respective plurality of vertical openings in said anchor platform;   c. a removable pressure-differential pump means attached to the upper end of each of said plurality of self-driving piles;   d. each said pressure-differential pump means comprising: a section of cylindrical casing open at either end thereof; one end of said section being the intake end of said pump housing and the other end being the expulsion end thereof;   a watertight, pressure-resistance bulkhead spanning the interior walls of said casing at a position inbetween the opposite ends thereof and separating the interior of said casing into upper and lower chambers;   an hydraulic cylinder containing a first piston means mounted centrally to said bulkhead; said first piston means operable to be moved in a reciprocating manner;   means connected to said hydraulic cylinder for operating said first piston means in said reciprocating manner;   a second piston means movably mounted between said bulkhead and the intake end of said section of cylindrical pump means casing;   a ram-rod means slideably passing through one end of said hydraulic cylinder and connecting said first piston means to said second piston means to impart movement from said first piston means to said second piston means;   flow control means in said bulkhead and in said second piston means, respectively, operable to allow water and sediment to pass therethrough only in a direction from said lower chamber to said upper chamber when water and soil sediment is to be moved from the intake end and expelled from the expulsion end of said pump unit causing said open ended pile casing to be driven into the seafloor; said flow control means also being operable to allow water and sediment to pass therethrough in a reverse direction only from said upper chamber to said lower chamber;     e. means on the upper end of each said pile casing for securely holding down said anchor platform to the seafloor;   f. attachment means on said anchor platform for securing an item to be anchored to the seafloor.   
     
     
       25. A device as in claim 24 wherein said means connected to said hydraulic cylinder for operating said piston in a reciprocating manner comprises a hydraulic power system. 
     
     
       26. A device as in claim 25 wherein said hydraulic power system is located remote from said pile assembly. 
     
     
       27. A pressure differential pump unit for pumping water and soil sediment, comprising: a. a section of cylindrical casing open at either end thereof; one end of said section being the intake end of said pump housing and the other end being the expulsion end thereof;   b. a watertight, pressure-resistant bulkhead spanning the interior walls of said casing at a position inbetween the opposite ends thereof and separating the interior of said casing into upper and lower chambers;   c. an hydraulic cylinder containing a first piston means mounted centrally to said bulkhead; said first piston means operable to be moved in a reciprocating manner;   d. means connected to said hydraulic cylinder for operating said first piston means in said reciprocating manner;   e. a second piston means movably mounted between said bulkhead and the intake end of said section of casing;   f. a ram rod means slideably passing through one end of said hydraulic cylinder and connecting said first piston means to said second piston means to impart movement from said first piston means to said second piston means;   g. flow control means in said bulkhead and in said second piston means, respectively, operable to allow water and sediment to pass therethrough only in a direction from said lower chamber to said upper chamber when water and soil sediment is to be moved from the intake end and expelled from the expulsion end of said pump unit; said flow control means also being operable to allow water and sediment to pass therethrough in a reverse direction only from said upper chamber to said lower chamber.   
     
     
       28. A device as in claim 27 wherein said means connected to said hydraulic cylinder for operating said piston in a reciprocating manner comprises an hydraulic power system. 
     
     
       29. A device as in claim 28 wherein said hydraulic power system is located remote from said pile assembly. 
     
     
       30. A self-driving pile assembly, comprising: a. a hollow tubular pile casing open at each end thereof; one end thereof being the leading-end of the pile which is driven into a seafloor;   b. at least one pressure differential pump unit mounted on said pile casing for driving said pile casing into the seafloor;   c. said pump unit including means for pumping water and sediment from the leading end of said pile casing, through the pile casing and expelling said water and sediment therefrom, said pump unit creating a pressure-differential between the leading end of said pile casing and the environment surrounding said pile casing causing said pile casing to be driven into the seafloor;   d. said pump unit comprising: a section of cylindrical casing open at either end thereof; one end of said section being the leading edge of said pump housing and the other end being the expulsion end thereof; a watertight, pressure-resistant bulkhead spanning the interior walls of said casing at a position inbetween the opposite ends thereof and separating the interior of said casing into upper and lower chambers;   an hydraulic cylinder containing a first piston means mounted centrally to said bulkhead; said first piston means operable to be moved in a reciprocating manner;   means connected to said hydraulic cylinder for operating said first piston means in said reciprocating manner;   a second piston means movably mounted between said bulkhead and the leading edge of said section of casing;   a ram-rod means slideably passing through one end of said hydraulic cylinder and connecting said first piston means to said second piston means to impart movement from said first piston means to said second piston means;   flow control means in said bulkhead and in said second piston means, respectively, operable to allow water and sediment to pass therethrough only in a direction from said lower chamber to said upper chamber when said pile assembly is to be moved downward into the seafloor; said flow control means being operable to allow water and sediment to pass therethrough only in a direction from said upper chamber to said lower chamber when said pile assembly is to be moved back out of the seafloor;   operation of said first and second pump pistons by means of said hydraulic system with said flow control means functioning so as to allow water and sediment to pass only upward through said pump unit causing said pile assembly to move downward into the seafloor, and operation of said first and second pump pistons with said flow control means functioning so as to allow water and sediment to pass only downward through the pump unit causing said pile assembly to back up out of the seafloor.